For most of us, thoughts
of getting older mean thoughts of two things only: fear and uncertainty.
We often find ourselves trapped in an ailing or failing body, withering
away with no job or family. But with a little planning, getting old can
be fun, rewarding, and only minimally-frustrating.
Maintaining a Postive Empowered Self-Image of One's Self and The
Person You Are
A positive self-image may be the main ingredient to living well as an
older adult. Feelings of laziness, depression, or bottom barrel self worth
are common amongst the Aged. You find yourself not fitting in with the
regular roles in your family, work, and school, and eventually wind up
with your days blending together in a lackluster progression from one
boredom to the next.
Maintaining
Independence and Self Independency
The loss of motor skills and sometimes continence inevitably leads to
an utter helplessness that forces us to rely on people, animals, and items
we never had to rely on before. And that can be a terrible blow to one's
self independency. How does a senior cope with that? At St. Joseph's,
we help you answer that question.
Maintaining a Social Network of Other Old People
A social network of people who are at towards the end of the line like
you is extremely important as our bodies slow down and eventually stop
working. Social relationships with these people enable you to brace for
the inevitable with an open mind and a relatively-healthy attitude.
Dealing with DEATH is a common challenge during this
stage of life. The death of a spouse, family, friends, or small furry
friend can create a malignant, soul-blackening void which can take everything
light and good that's left in your heart and destroy it. Don't let that
happen. Take steps like these to prevent the void:
* Join groups that will accept you, despite your age
* Initiate a luncheon with a new acquaintance, or just a regular lunch
* Start an account on Myspace or Friendster, or add new friends to your
Netflix
* Reach out to others and tell them you love them
* Volunteer at places like senior centers, retirement homes, and fundraiser
car washes
Maintaining Health Healthy Habits should be the goal
of all senior citizens.
Taking responsibility for your health is the first step in this process,
even if you are in a wheelchair.
* Exercise: Yes, it's late. But it's not too late to
begin a program of regular exercise appropriate to your needs that can
be sustained as you age, to keep your body's systems from failing any
sooner than they need to. Check with your physician before initiating
an exercise program.
* Nutrition: Healthy eating habits can play a tremendous
role in how you feel every day. This can determine whether you have the
energy to do the things you choose. But a healthy diet alone will not
keep away the sense of impending mortality that weighs on your shoulders
from day to day. You may want to discuss nutrition with a physician, nurse
or a registered dietitian about medication or natural remedies to alleviate
these symptoms. 
* Stress: Being aware of and managing stress is important.
However, at this stage in life, you may find you have little that causes
stress, except for your age. As part of an ongoing mental health regimen,
imagine yourself working at your old job, or discussing money issues with
your spouse. Sometimes the best way to manage stress is to synthesize
it in your mind and imagine yourself combatting it daily.
* Enjoy the Present: Appreciate the present and look
forward to the future, as difficult as this may be to imagine. Cherish
and focus the rich textures and emotions of your past, which may seem
like the only time in your life that was worth living. Value and respect
experiences that have made you the senior person you are today, without
going overboard.
* Practice Being Flexible: We may discover that familiar
patterns of senior behavior cease to provide the satisfaction they once
did. Try something new, take a class for seniors or start a different
hobby, one that plays to your fragile body and slowing mind. The benefit
of practicing these techniques may be rewarded with happiness and fulfillment.
Be willing to take risks to feel better about yourself. Your happiness
is worth it.
As
people age, they often develop problems with short-term memory. This
loss is caused by the inevitable shrinking of the hippocampus, the part
of the brain that plays a key role in processing new information. But
when short-term memory problems are more pronounced, it is called mild
cognitive impairment. People who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive
impairment may have up to a 50 percent chance of developing Alzheimer's
within four years.
